Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, tonight I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), as well as our other colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel), as Chairs of the Democratic Study Group on National Security.
Mr. Speaker, we founded this group to advance principles and policies of national security which will strengthen America. We have been meeting with nations, top national security experts, and we have been taking to the House floor to respond to world events. We will also be introducing legislative matters to improve our safety here and around the world. I hope to address one of those tonight, that of the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
But, first, I would like to articulate 10 principles of national security which I believe unite those that have come to associate themselves with the Democratic Study Group on National Security.
First, our soldiers. We support our men and women in uniform, our soldiers, our sailors, our marines, our airmen and -women, our veterans, our reservists, our National Guard, completely and unequivocally. Our soldiers are the foundation of our Nation's security.
Second, military strength. We believe that America's military strength is superior in every respect, and we are committed to making sure it remains that way. The supremacy of America's military capability is the cornerstone of our security.
Number three, military transformation. We believe that America's military must be transformed to one that is more versatile, more agile, more capable of responding to multiple crises in far-away places and even more technologically powerful.
Number four, troop levels. We believe America's Armed Forces must not be overextended; that our reserves must not be stretched too thin; that the number of our troops must reflect the number of our military commitments we are likely to face and the severity of those commitments. We must either reduce the number of our commitments or increase the number of our troops. As General Shinseki recently said, ``Beware the 12-division strategy for a 10-division army.''
Number five, intelligence. We believe that in the war on terrorism, top-quality human and technological sources of intelligence are essential and that the reporting of intelligence must be accurate, timely, and properly weighted. The assimilation of that intelligence will be essential if we are to avoid another September 11.
Six, vision. We believe that America cannot make itself secure by virtue of its military power alone; that moral authority, integrity, generosity, and vision are vital to our peace and prosperity. An America that inspires hope in its ideals must complement an America that inspires awe in its strength. We are a more secure America when we rally the world to our side in a great cause.
Seven, democracy. We believe that the best hope for a secure America rests in the propagation of democracy around the world and that every instrument of American influence, diplomatic, military and economic, should advance the cause of democracy abroad. Democracies are poor breeding grounds for terrorism and war.
Eight, civil rights. We believe that America must be confident in its strength, vigilant in the defense of the homeland, supportive of police and firefighters on the front line, and jealously protective of the rights of all Americans. We will not let terrorists change our way of life, we will not live in fear, and we will not undermine the civil rights which characterize our democracy.
Nine, commerce. We believe that the free and fair flow of goods and commerce has the capability of lifting countries out of the despair of poverty and that we must act resolutely to eradicate the economic deprivation which allows the germ of terrorism to spread. Americans are blessed with great plenty. We are a generous people, and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty, disease, war, and famine.
Finally, number ten, world community. We believe that America lives in an interdependent world, made smaller by travel, technology, and the demands of a burgeoning population. America has a critical role to play as the most powerful member of the world community. And in this community, as in all others, the golden rule still applies: we must act toward other nations as we would have them act towards America.
Tonight, let me address very quickly, in the remaining time that I have, one of these 10 commandments of national security, and that is sound intelligence.
I believe we ought to have an independent commission investigate the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. I supported the authorization of force, as did many of my colleagues, in a bipartisan manner, on the basis of intelligence that showed that Iraq possessed chemical, biological, and nuclear programs. We must determine whether that intelligence was accurate. We must determine whether that intelligence was weighted properly. We must determine whether that intelligence was presented to this Congress and the American people in an accurate manner.
This is essential, number one, because this Congress made the most important determination it can make, and that is the determination authorizing the use of force on the basis of that intelligence; and, number two, if we are to avoid another September 11, we must ensure we have a sound intelligence process. And, finally, our standing in the world, the willingness of other nations to cooperate with America in the future will be dependent on how we resolve this issue.